Systems and methods for enhancing user interaction with displayed information

ABSTRACT

A method of enhancing user interaction with content displayed on a display of a touch screen device is provided. The method includes displaying at least one enhanced cursor within a viewable area of the display, the at least one enhanced cursor having a predefined action associated therewith, and receiving a selection of the at least one enhanced cursor. The method also includes detecting movement of the selected at least one enhance cursor onto displayed content, and executing the predefined action on the content. The method may further include detecting a subject matter of content being displayed on a display of a device coupled to the processor. Furthermore, a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions for execution by a processor that cause the processor to perform the provided method may also be provided.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/249,949, filed Sep. 30, 2011, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

Embodiments disclosed herein are related to systems and methods for enhancing user interaction with online content. In particular, embodiments disclosed herein are related to displaying an enhanced cursor-like content selection area, or “Smart Spot”, that allows users to automatically execute predefined actions on the selected content.

Related Art

Electronic devices, particularly computers, have become part of the daily lives of many people such that interfacing with content on a computer has become as familiar to people as turning the pages of a book. People understand the basic mechanics of selecting items displayed on a screen by moving a cursor to an item to be selected. People also understand that there are certain predefined actions can occur by pressing certain buttons or keys on the selected item. For example, a single mouse click, such as a left button click, will often select the item on which the cursor is positioned. A double left click may execute a program associated with the item on which the cursor is positioned. A right mouse button click (or command+click for Macintosh™ users) will open a menu of possible actions to perform on the item on which the cursor is positioned. These actions have become very familiar to users when interacting with desktop and laptop computers, and other devices that use human interface devices (HID) such as mice and trackballs.

As electronic devices become smaller and mobile, one of the difficulties has been trying to replicate the interaction users have become used to on desktop and laptop computers with HIDs such as mice and trackballs. Mobile devices that use a touch screen interface have been able to mimic the familiar point and click interface from desktop and laptop computers with a stylus or user finger acting as the “point” and the tapping of the screen at a certain location acting as the “click”. However, this method of interfacing with content displayed on a screen of a mobile device is limited in the actions that can be performed by the act of tapping on the screen. The act of tapping the screen typically selects the tapped object, which may then follow a hyperlink or execute an application represented by the object. Certain mobile devices include framework which may bring up a menu of options when the tap is held on the screen for a predetermined amount of time. However, this is often unintuitive to a user and may result in the selection or execution of the object being tapped because the user did not hold the tap for the predetermined amount of time. In addition, navigating the displayed menus for the desired action takes additional actions and time which can be burdensome to the user.

Moreover, when viewing content, such as web pages and other content displaying text to the user on a mobile device, it can be difficult to select or highlight portions of the web page or text. For example, users are accustomed to be able to easily select portions of text displayed by a desktop or laptop computer by highlighting the text using the HID. Users are used to being able to perform actions on the selected text, such as cut and paste. On a mobile device having a touch screen, the functionality for selecting text or other portions of the displayed web page are not intuitive and can be difficult, particularly on mobile devices having a very small display area, such as a mobile phone. Moreover, once the text or other portions of the displayed web page are selected, the actions that can be performed on the selection are limited to copy and paste functionality.

Similarly, when browsing the internet using a mobile device, users may have difficulty in selecting a hyperlink or anchor on a displayed web page. This is particularly true if the mobile device has a small display area, such as on a mobile phone. When numerous anchors or hyperlinks are displayed by the mobile device, a user often accidentally selects the unintended anchor or hyperlink, which causes the user to have to go back to the previous page and try to select the correct anchor or hyperlink again. Or, the user will have to zoom into the displayed webpage to select the correct anchor or hyperlink and then zoom back out again once the desired content is displayed. Despite the many capabilities that many modern mobile devices have, users are unable or reluctant to take full advantage of these capabilities due to issues interacting with the displayed information, such as have been described here.

Accordingly, there is a need for a system and method that provides an enhanced user interaction with displayed content, particularly content displayed on mobile devices and touchscreen devices.

SUMMARY

Consistent with some embodiments, there is provided a computer-readable medium having instructions for execution by a processor that, when executed, cause the processor to perform a method for enhancing user interaction with displayed content, the method including detecting a subject matter of content being displayed on a display of a device coupled to the processor. The method also includes displaying at least one enhanced cursor within a viewable area of a display, assigning predefined actions to the at least one enhanced cursor based on the detected subject matter, and executing the predefined actions when the enhanced cursor is moved onto the content.

Consistent with some embodiments, there is also provided a method of enhancing user interaction with content displayed on a display of a touch screen device. The method includes displaying, on the display of the touch screen device, at least one enhanced cursor within a viewable area of the display, the at least one enhanced cursor having a predefined action associated therewith, receiving, at a touch screen of the touch screen device, a selection of the at least one enhanced cursor. The method also includes detecting, by the touch screen, movement of the selected at least one enhanced cursor onto displayed content, and executing, using a processor of the touch screen device, the predefined action on the content.

These and other embodiments will be described in further detail below with respect to the following figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a method for enhancing user interaction with displayed content, consistent with some embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the use of an enhanced cursor on displayed content, consistent with some embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of using an enhanced cursor on displayed content, consistent with some embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of using of an enhanced cursor on displayed content, consistent with some embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method for enhancing user interaction with displayed content using an enhanced cursor palette, consistent with some embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the use of an enhanced cursor palette on displayed content, consistent with some embodiments.

In the drawings, elements having the same designation have the same or similar functions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description specific details are set forth describing certain embodiments. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the disclosed embodiments may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. The specific embodiments presented are meant to be illustrative, but not limiting. One skilled in the art may realize other material that, although not specifically described herein, is within the scope and spirit of this disclosure.

Embodiments as described herein are related to using a “Smart Spot” or enhanced cursor-like selection area (referred to herein as an enhanced cursor) that allows for one or more predefined actions or a series of predefined actions to be executed or performed on displayed content to enhance user interaction. The enhanced cursor may be displayed on a display screen also having content displayed thereon. A user can select the enhanced cursor, drag the cursor onto content or drag content onto the cursor, and then the predefined actions associated with the enhanced cursor will be executed on the content. The predefined actions may include an internet search, a text search, copy/paste functionality, buying or bidding on purchasable items, or paying for purchased items. The predefined actions may be facilitated by third-party application program interfaces (APIs) that perform actions defined by the third party and, in some cases, relate to the third party's business. The content may be a displayed web page, a text document, or a picture. The predefined actions may further override any previously defined actions on the content that instituted by the operating system or application displaying the content. The enhanced cursor may be fully configurable and customizable by a user to perform a specific action or multiple actions or to have a specific user-selected design and appearance. The enhanced cursor may be used on touch screen devices, such as smart phones and tablet computers such that a user can select the enhanced cursor with their finger, and slide the enhanced cursor onto displayed content to perform the defined actions on the displayed content. Alternatively, the enhanced cursor may be used with desktop and laptop computers, where a user can select the enhanced cursor with a mouse, trackball, or other human interface device (HID) and move the enhanced cursor onto content to perform the defined actions on the content. The enhanced cursor may be implemented as instructions stored on a computer-readable medium that may be executed by a processor, and may be implemented as an add-on to existing web browser, document editor, or other application functionality, or as a widget running within the operating system framework. Consistent with the disclosed embodiments, the enhanced cursor enhances user interaction with displayed content by allowing the user to execute or perform predefined actions on content quickly and easily.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a method for enhancing user interaction with displayed content, consistent with some embodiments. As shown in FIG. 1, the method begins by enabling the enhanced cursor (102). The enhanced cursor may be a separate program, application or “app”, or a widget, each of which may correspond to instructions stored in a non-transient, tangible memory for execution by a processor. Further the enhanced cursor may be an add-on to the existing functionality of a running program, such as a word processor, text editor, or web browser, such that the enhanced cursor may be selectively enabled or disabled by a user. Further, the enhanced cursor may be enabled using JavaScript. After the enhanced cursor has been enabled, the enhanced cursor will be displayed (104). Consistent with some embodiments, the enhanced cursor will be displayed within a viewable area of the display. Further consistent with some embodiments, the enhanced cursor may be displayed within an area of the display so as not to obscure the displayed content. Alternatively, the enhanced cursor may be displayed on a “dock” or “toolbar” of the running application or the operating system to facilitate easy selection by the user without obscuring the displayed content.

A user may have the ability to configure the enhanced cursor (106). A more in-depth configuration of the enhanced cursor will be described with respect to FIG. 4, below. Returning to FIG. 1, the user may configure certain properties of the enhanced cursor, such as the appearance, location, and predefined actions of the cursor. The predefined actions may include the actions performed by the cursor on selected content and/or actions that an inactive enhanced cursor may perform. For example, an inactive enhanced cursor may be a clock displaying the current time, a thermometer displaying the current local temperature (or the temperature of a user-selected area), or a trash or recycling bin such that a user could drag content into the inactive enhanced cursor to delete selected content. The enhanced cursor may also include historic information regarding usage of the enhanced cursor, such that a user can view previous actions executed by the enhanced cursor. An inactive enhanced cursor may also be used to provide enhanced navigation of content. For example, the inactive enhanced cursor may be configured to always be displayed in an inactive part of the displayed content, providing a visual clue for the user where they can touch in the displayed content without activating any actions. This can be useful when navigating on a device with a small screen and many internet hyperlinks. The enhanced cursor could be configured to be displayed in a portion of the small screen where there are no displayed hyperlinks, such that the user knows that it is a “safe” spot to touch the screen and navigate the page without activating a hyperlink to a different page.

The user may next select the enhanced cursor (108). The enhanced cursor may be selected using a finger or stylus if the display is a touch screen display, such as found on a smart phone or tablet computer, whereas if the display is coupled to or part of a desktop or laptop computer, the user may use a human interface device such as a mouse, trackball, or keyboard to select the enhanced cursor. The selected enhanced cursor may then be moved onto the displayed content of interest (110). Consistent with some embodiments, the enhanced cursor may require activation before being permitted to move. In such embodiments, a user may first press and hold the enhanced cursor to activate movement of the enhanced cursor. Once the enhanced cursor has been moved onto the displayed content of interest, the user can activate the enhanced cursor to perform the associated predefined action or actions. Activating the enhanced cursor may comprise tapping or clicking on the enhanced cursor, or, in some embodiments, double-tapping or double-clicking the enhanced cursor. Once the enhanced cursor has been activated, the predefined or assigned actions associated with the enhanced cursor are executed on the content (114). Consistent with some embodiments, after the predefined or assigned actions have been executed or performed by the enhanced cursor, the enhanced cursor may then return to an inactive state and/or may return to its original location within the displayed content or on a dock or toolbar.

Moreover, after the predefined or assigned actions have been executed or performed by the enhanced cursor, the enhanced cursor can provide additional functionality such as communicating the executed actions to a social networking site such as Facebook™, Twitter™, or Google+™. Such social networking communications may be configured in step 106 and may be personalized such that the communications only occur when certain actions are performed, such as bidding on, or purchasing items online using the enhanced cursor.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the use of an enhanced cursor on displayed content, consistent with some embodiments. To illustrate the method described in FIG. 1, certain steps of the method described in FIG. 1 will be discussed in conjunction with FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 2, content 202 is displayed on a display 204 of a processing device 206. Consistent with some embodiments, processing device 206 may include any appropriate combination of hardware and/or software having a processor and capable of reading instructions stored on a non-transitory machine-readable medium for execution by the processor. Some common forms of machine-readable media includes, for example, floppy disk, flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, CD-ROM, any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, any other physical medium with patterns of holes, RAM, PROM, EPROM, FLASH-EPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, and/or any other medium from which a processor or computer is adapted to read. Further, processing device 206 may be configured for wired and/or wireless communication over a network. According to some embodiments, processing device 206 may be a mobile device, such as a mobile phone, a smart phone, or a tablet computer such as the Apple™ iPad™. According to other embodiments, processing device 206 may be a processing device such as a personal computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), or a notebook computer.

Consistent with some embodiments processing device 206 includes a machine-readable medium, such as a memory (not shown) that includes instructions for execution by a processor (not shown) for causing processing device 206 to perform specific tasks. For example, such instructions may include a displaying content 202, such as the shown web page, or other applications that display content 202 corresponding to a text document, a Microsoft® Word® document, or an Adobe® PDF® document. Further, content 202 may be content displayed by a particular application or “app” stored in a memory of processing device 206 and executed by a processor of processing device 206. For example, content 202 may be a news web page, such as shown in FIG. 2, or content 202 may be an online auction or transaction web page displayed by a web page or application.

Content 202 may also be a live or saved image captured by a camera coupled to processing device 206 or stored in memory of processing device 206 that has been processed using optical character recognition (OCR). Consequently, a user may view an image and perform actions on portions of the image that can be recognized using OCR. For example, processing device may be a smart phone or tablet computer having an integrated camera such that a user can use the camera to provide an augmented reality and view the surrounding area and perform actions on, for example, the names of stores and restaurants that are displayed such that the user can search for additional information or reviews about these stores and restaurants. In addition, enhanced cursor 208 may further have a translate function such that if a user is in a foreign country with signs in languages that the user cannot read, the user can view the surrounding area using the camera of the processing device, and use enhanced cursor 208 on selected signs to translate the signs into a language that the user can read.

As shown in FIG. 2, once an enhanced cursor 208 is enabled (102), enhanced cursor 208 is displayed (104) in a portion of display 204 where no content is currently displayed so as not to obscure the displayed content. A user may then configure enhanced cursor 208 to assign actions or change the shape of enhanced cursor 208 (106). For example, enhanced cursor 208 has been assigned a “search” function, and been configured to have an elliptical shape. Consistent with some embodiments, the predefined actions of enhanced cursor 208 may be selectable using a drop-down menu or simple selection of actions appearing upon selection of enhanced cursor. Alternatively, the functionality and shape of enhanced cursor 208 may correspond to a “default” configuration of enhanced cursor 208. The user may then select enhanced cursor 208 (108) and move enhanced cursor 208 onto content of interest (110). As shown in FIG. 2, a user may want to search to find more about the displayed content of “Cincinnati title” and, thus, will move enhanced cursor 208 onto that displayed content. The user would then activate enhanced cursor 208 (112) such that the assigned action of a search would be performed on the displayed content within the enhanced cursor. Once the assigned action is performed, another window or screen, or tab for browsers and other content displaying programs that utilize tabbed browsing, would be displayed on display 204 showing the results of the assigned and executed action associated with enhanced cursor 208.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of using an enhanced cursor on displayed content, consistent with some embodiments. FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 1, but adds an additional step wherein the subject matter of the displayed content is automatically detected by the executing instructions, program, application, or widget responsible for the enhanced cursor, and automatically assigns actions to be associated with the enhanced cursor based on the detected subject matter. For illustration purposes, the method illustrated in FIG. 3 will be discussed in conjunction with the diagram shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 3, the method begins by enabling enhanced cursor 208 (302). Enhanced cursor 208 may be a separate program, application or “app”, or a widget, each of which may correspond to instructions stored in a non-transient, tangible memory for execution by a processor. Further enhanced cursor 208 may be an add-on to the existing functionality of a running program, such as a word processor, text editor, or web browser, such that enhanced cursor 208 may be selectively enabled or disabled by a user. After enhanced cursor 208 has been enabled, instructions associated with enhanced cursor 208 are executed to detect a subject matter of content 202 displayed on display 204 of processing device 206 (304). Consistent with some embodiments, the subject matter may be detected from the type of program or application currently executing on processing device 206. Alternatively, the subject matter may be detected by parsing the text of the displayed content 202 or by parsing the content 202 itself. Based on the detected subject matter, actions will be automatically assigned to enhanced cursor 208 (306). For example, if it is determined that the type of program or application currently executing is a web browser, enhanced cursor 208 may be automatically assigned a search function. Alternatively, if it is determined that the type or program or application currently executing is a word processor or text editor, enhanced cursor 208 may be automatically assigned a copy/paste function. Moreover, if content 202 is parsed to determine that an online auction site, such as provided by eBay, Inc. of San Jose, Calif., is currently being displayed, enhanced cursor 208 may be automatically assigned a bid functionality or an auction search functionality. Further, if content 202 is parsed to determine that a transaction is required concurrent with content 202, enhanced cursor may be automatically assigned a payment functionality such as may be provided by PayPal, Inc. of San Jose, Calif. As another example, content 202 is detected as being a news website and, thus, enhanced cursor 208 is assigned a search functionality. Consistent with other embodiments, enhanced cursor 208 may be assigned a particular color based on the detected subject matter of content 202.

Returning to FIG. 3, enhanced cursor 208 is then displayed (308). Consistent with some embodiments, enhanced cursor 208 will be displayed within a viewable area of display 204. Further consistent with some embodiments, enhanced cursor 208 may be displayed within an area of display 204 so as not to obscure displayed content 202. Alternatively, enhanced cursor 208 may be displayed on a “dock” or “toolbar” of the running application or the operating system to facilitate easy selection by the user without obscuring displayed content 202. The user may next select enhanced cursor 208 (310). Enhanced cursor 208 may be selected using a finger or stylus if the display is a touch screen display, such as found on a smart phone or tablet computer, whereas if the display is coupled to or part of a desktop or laptop computer, the user may use a human interface device such as a mouse, trackball, or keyboard to select the enhanced cursor. The selected enhanced cursor 208 may then be moved onto the displayed content of interest (312) where the user may then activate enhanced cursor 208 (314). Consistent with some embodiments, activating enhanced cursor 208 may comprise tapping or clicking on enhanced cursor 208, or, in some embodiments, double-tapping or double-clicking enhanced cursor 208. Once enhanced cursor 208 has been activated, the predefined or assigned actions associated with enhanced cursor 208 are executed on content 202 (316). Consistent with some embodiments, after the predefined or assigned actions have been executed or performed by enhanced cursor 208, enhanced cursor 208 may then return to an inactive state and/or may return to its original location within displayed content 202 or on a dock or toolbar.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of using of an enhanced cursor on displayed content, consistent with some embodiments. FIG. 4 is similar to FIGS. 1 and 3, but adds additional steps for configuring enhanced cursor 208. Consistent with some embodiments, the method illustrated in FIG. 4 may correspond to the configuration step 106 shown in FIG. 1. Alternatively, the method shown in FIG. 4 may be integrated with the method shown in FIG. 3 such that enhanced cursor 208 that is automatically assigned actions based on the detected subject matter of the content can also be configured. For illustration purposes, the method illustrated in FIG. 4 will be discussed in conjunction with the diagram shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 4, the method begins by enabling enhanced cursor 208 (402). Enhanced cursor 208 may be a separate program, application or “app”, or a widget, each of which may correspond to instructions stored in a non-transient, tangible memory for execution by a processor. Further enhanced cursor 208 may be an add-on to the existing functionality of a running program, such as a word processor, text editor, or web browser, such that the enhanced cursor may be selectively enabled or disabled by a user. The user may next select enhanced cursor 208 (404). Enhanced cursor 208 may be selected using a finger or stylus if the display is a touch screen display, such as found on a smart phone or tablet computer, whereas if the display is coupled to or part of a desktop or laptop computer, the user may use a human interface device such as a mouse, trackball, or keyboard to select the enhanced cursor.

A user may then enter a configuration menu for configuring enhanced cursor 208 (406). Within configuration menu, a user may assign an action for enhanced cursor 208 (408). The assigned actions may include an internet search, a text search, copy/paste functionality, searching for, buying, or bidding on purchasable items, or paying for purchased items. The user may then assign additional parameters related to the assigned action (410). Such additional parameters may include a specific search engine, parameters related to displaying the results of the executed action (i.e., such as display in a separate tab, window, pop-up window, etc.). The additional parameters may also include a secondary action, or even a series of actions assigned to enhanced cursor 208. Assigning a secondary action or a series of actions to enhanced cursor allows a user to chain actions together to be performed together. For example, a user may configure enhanced cursor 208 to have a copy action and then assign a secondary paste action. Once the user activates enhanced cursor 208 to execute the copy action, enhanced cursor now switches to the secondary action so that the user can activate enhanced cursor 208 to execute a paste action. Another example would be an enhanced cursor having an eBay search function and a secondary action of a PayPal function. Once the user has executed the eBay search function using enhanced cursor 208, the user can then execute the PayPal action using enhanced cursor 208 to pay for and purchase goods returned by the executed eBay search function.

A user may then select the appearance of enhanced cursor 208 (412), allowing the user to personalize and further enhance their interaction with content 202. For example, a user may choose enhanced cursor 208 to be ball-shaped based on their favorite sport, and may further configure enhanced cursor 208 to display a user-defined news or scores from a Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feed associated with their favorite sport or favorite team. Moreover, enhanced cursor 208 may be further configured to perform actions on the screen when not in use. One example would be a ball-shaped enhanced cursor bouncing or rolling around on the screen. A user may also choose enhanced cursor 208 to appear as a clock that displays the current time. Further, a user may choose enhanced cursor 208 to take the appearance of the user's online avatar or any other image or picture of the user's choosing. The user may further customize enhanced cursor 208 to automatically communicate information related to the executed actions to social networking sites of the user's choosing, with language chosen by the user.

Once the appearance of enhanced cursor 208 has been selected, the user may exit the enhanced cursor configuration menu (414). Enhanced cursor 208 may then be moved onto the displayed content of interest (416) and the predefined or assigned actions associated with enhanced cursor 208 are executed on content 202 (418). Consistent with some embodiments, after the predefined or assigned actions have been executed or performed by enhanced cursor 208, enhanced cursor 208 may then return to an inactive state and/or may return to its original location within displayed content 202 or on a dock or toolbar.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method for enhancing user interaction with displayed content using an enhanced cursor palette, consistent with some embodiments. The method illustrated in FIG. 5 is similar to methods illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, but instead of a single enhanced cursor, allows a user to choose one or more enhanced cursors from a palette of enhanced cursors. As shown in FIG. 5, the method begins by enabling the enhanced cursor palette (502). The enhanced cursor palette may be a separate program, application or “app”, or a widget, each of which may correspond to instructions stored in a non-transient, tangible memory for execution by a processor. Further the enhanced cursor palette may be an add-on to the existing functionality of a running program, such as a word processor, text editor, or web browser, such that the enhanced cursor palette may be selectively enabled or disabled by a user. After the enhanced cursor palette has been enabled, the enhanced cursor palette will be displayed (504). Consistent with some embodiments, the enhanced cursor palette will be displayed within a viewable area of the display. Further consistent with some embodiments, the enhanced cursor palette may be displayed within an area of the display so as not to obscure the displayed content. The enhanced cursor palette may also be translucent to further prevent obscuring the displayed content. Alternatively, the enhanced cursor palette may be displayed on a “dock” or “toolbar” of the running application or the operating system to facilitate easy selection by the user without obscuring the displayed content.

A user may have the ability to configure the enhanced cursors displayed in the enhanced cursor palette consistent with the method described in FIG. 4. Alternatively, the enhanced cursors in the enhanced cursor palette may be automatically configured consistent with the method illustrated in FIG. 3. Returning to FIG. 5, the user may next select at least one enhanced cursor from the enhanced cursor palette (506). The enhanced cursor may be selected from the enhanced cursor palette using a finger or stylus if the display is a touch screen display, such as found on a smart phone or tablet computer, whereas if the display is coupled to or part of a desktop or laptop computer, the user may use a human interface device such as a mouse, trackball, or keyboard to select the enhanced cursor from the enhanced cursor palette. The selected enhanced cursor may then be moved onto the displayed content of interest (508) where the user may then activate the enhanced cursor (510). Consistent with some embodiments, activating the enhanced cursor may comprise tapping or clicking on the enhanced cursor, or, in some embodiments, double-tapping or double-clicking the enhanced cursor. Once the enhanced cursor has been activated, the predefined or assigned actions associated with the enhanced cursor are executed on the content (512). Consistent with some embodiments, after the predefined or assigned actions have been executed or performed by the enhanced cursor, the enhanced cursor may then return to an inactive state and/or may return to its original location within palette.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the use of an enhanced cursor palette on displayed content, consistent with some embodiments. To illustrate the method described in FIG. 6, certain steps of the method described in FIG. 5 will be discussed in conjunction with FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 6, content 602 is displayed on a display 604 of a processing device 606. Consistent with some embodiments, processing device 606 may include any appropriate combination of hardware and/or software having a processor and capable of reading instructions stored on a non-transitory machine-readable medium for execution by the processor. Some common forms of machine-readable media includes, for example, floppy disk, flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, CD-ROM, any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, any other physical medium with patterns of holes, RAM, PROM, EPROM, FLASH-EPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, and/or any other medium from which a processor or computer is adapted to read. Further, processing device 606 may be configured for wired and/or wireless communication over a network. According to some embodiments, processing device 606 may be a mobile device, such as a mobile phone, a smart phone, or touchscreen device such as a tablet computer like the Apple™ iPad™. According to other embodiments, processing device 606 may be a processing device such as a personal computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), or a notebook computer.

Consistent with some embodiments processing device 606 includes a machine-readable medium, such as a memory (not shown) that includes instructions for execution by a processor (not shown) for causing processing device 606 to perform specific tasks. For example, such instructions may include a displaying content 602, such as the shown web page, or other applications that display content 602 corresponding to a text document, a Microsoft® Word® document, or an Adobe® PDF® document. Further, content 602 may be content displayed by a particular application or “app” stored in a memory of processing device 606 and executed by a processor of processing device 606. For example, content 602 may be a news website, such as shown in FIG. 6, or content 602 may be an online auction or transaction web page displayed by a web page or application.

Content 602 may also be a live or saved image captured by a camera coupled to processing device 606 or stored in memory of processing device 606 that has been processed using optical character recognition (OCR). Consequently, a user may view an image and perform actions on portions of the image that can be recognized using OCR. For example, processing device may be a smart phone or tablet computer having an integrated camera such that a user can use the camera to provide an augmented reality and view the surrounding area and perform actions on, for example, the names of stores and restaurants that are displayed such that the user can search for additional information or reviews about these stores and restaurants. In addition, enhanced cursor palette 608 may further have a translation enhanced cursor such that if a user is in a foreign country with signs in languages that the user cannot read, the user can view the surrounding area using the camera of the processing device, and select the translate enhanced cursor from enhanced cursor palette 608 to use on selected signs to translate the signs into a language that the user can read.

As shown in FIG. 6, once an enhanced cursor palette 608 is enabled (502), enhanced cursor palette 608 is displayed (504) near content 602. For example, enhanced cursor palette 608 may be displayed in a dock above content 602, as shown in FIG. 6. The user may then select an enhanced cursor 610 from enhanced cursor palette 608 (506) and move the selected enhanced cursor 610 onto content of interest (508). As shown in FIG. 6, a user may want to search eBay for merchandise related to either the Manchester or Tottenham football (soccer) clubs and, thus, will move enhanced cursor 610 onto that displayed content. The user would then activate the selected enhanced cursor 610 (510) such that the assigned action of a searching eBay would be performed on the displayed content within the selected enhanced cursor 610. Once the assigned action is performed, another window or screen would be displayed on display 604 showing the results of the assigned and executed action associated with the selected enhanced cursor 610. Consistent with other embodiments, as user may select additional enhanced cursors from palette 608 to perform multiple actions on content 602 in parallel. For example, user may perform an eBay search using enhanced cursor 610 and also a web search on the same or different displayed content using the search enhanced cursor from cursor palette 608.

Consistent with other embodiments, a user may select displayed content 612 and either copy/paste content 612 or drag/drop content 612 into one of the enhanced cursors displayed in enhanced cursor palette 608. For example, a user wanting to know more about “Canada's left-leaning NDP” could select that text and drag/drop or copy/paste the text into the search enhanced cursor displayed in enhanced cursor palette 608. A new window, screen, or tab would then be displayed showing the search results for the selected text.

Moreover, after the predefined or assigned actions have been executed or performed by the enhanced cursor, the enhanced cursor can provide additional functionality such as communicating the executed actions to a social networking site such as Facebook™ Twitter™, or Google+™. Such social networking communications may be configured in step 106 and may be personalized such that the communications only occur when certain actions are performed, such as bidding on, or purchasing items online using the enhanced cursor. For example, after searching eBay for merchandise related to either the Manchester or Tottenham football clubs, the user may purchase a jersey using the PayPal enhanced cursor from enhanced cursor palette 608. After the purchase has been completed, the enhanced cursor could be configured to post a tweet or status update stating “USER just purchased a signed #10 jersey from eBay™ SELLER using PayPal™.” The language of the social networking message may be fully configurable by the user, and could be configured in accordance with FIG. 4.

In addition to the embodiments described above, enhanced cursor 208 (or a palette 608 of enhanced cursors 610) may be integrated in additional platforms. For example, enhanced cursor 208 may be integrated into gaming consoles, such as the Nintendo Wii, Microsoft XBOX360, or the Sony Playstation 3. In such integrations, enhanced cursor 208 may be used to execute a predefined action on content displayed by the gaming console in the same way as on processing device 206 or 606, described above. Similarly, enhanced cursor 208 may utilized to execute a predefined action on content displayed by a digital set-top box (STB) such as provided by a cable or satellite television provider. Enhanced cursor 208 may also be used along with mapping websites, software programs, or applications, wherein the one or more predetermined actions of enhanced cursor 208 can correspond to obtaining a current location (if used in a Global Positioning System (GPS)-enabled device), or obtaining driving directions to a highlighted displayed location.

Enhanced cursor 208 may also be configured to work with additional APIs provided by PayPal, Inc. and eBay Inc., of San Jose, Calif. Such additional APIs may include, but not be limited to the “Flick” API, which allows a user to perform a flicking or sliding motion on a touch screen device to perform an action. Using the “Flick” API, enhanced cursor 208 could be configured to perform a desired action on desired content in response to a flick, swipe, or slide of the enhanced cursor on or to desired content. Consistent with some embodiments, the flick, swipe, or slide of enhanced cursor 208 on or to desired content could cause an action on desired content wherein the result of the action is transmitted to another device. For example, enhanced cursor 208 may be configured to perform an eBay search and the “Flick” API may be configured to display content on a secondary device, such as an internet-enabled television. Thus, when enhanced cursor 208 is moved on to the desired content and enhanced cursor 208 is flicked, the results of the eBay search could be displayed on the internet-enabled television. Enhanced cursor 208 may also be configured to work with additional third-party APIs, such as APIs to perform predetermined actions corresponding to the third party or the third party's business. This may include third party APIs designed for integration with social media sites or for integrating one or more people such that selected people can be notified about a user's actions performed using enhanced cursor 208.

Software, in accordance with the present disclosure, such as program code and/or data, may be stored on one or more machine-readable mediums, including non-transitory machine-readable medium. It is also contemplated that software identified herein may be implemented using one or more general purpose or specific purpose computers and/or computer systems, networked and/or otherwise. Where applicable, the ordering of various steps described herein may be changed, combined into composite steps, and/or separated into sub-steps to provide features described herein.

Consequently, embodiments as described herein may provide an enhanced cursor-like content selection area, or Smart Spot, that enhances user interaction with displayed content by allowing a user to perform assigned or predefined actions on the displayed content simply by moving the enhanced cursor onto the displayed content and activating the enhanced cursor. The examples provided above are exemplary only and are not intended to be limiting. One skilled in the art may readily devise other systems consistent with the disclosed embodiments which are intended to be within the scope of this disclosure. As such, the application is limited only by the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: parsing, by one or more hardware processors, visual content being displayed on an electronic user interface to determine a subject matter of the visual content; selecting, by the one or more hardware processors, a first set of to actions, from a plurality of available actions, for an enhanced cursor for use with the visual content based on the determined subject matter; assigning, by the one or more hardware processors, the first set of actions to the enhanced cursor; displaying, by the one or more hardware processors, the enhanced cursor at an initial area on the electronic user interface without obscuring the visual content; receiving, by the one or more hardware processors, a selection of a portion of the visual content based on detecting a user selection of the enhanced cursor and movement of the enhanced cursor from the initial area of the electronic user interface to the portion of the displayed content on the electronic user interface; and in response to receiving the selection of the portion of the visual content, executing, by the one or more hardware processors, the first set of actions using the portion of the visual content.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the initial area of the enhanced cursor is an area where the visual content is not displayed.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user selection of the enhanced cursor comprises at least one of a double-clicking or a double-tapping.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the enhanced cursor includes configurable elements.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of actions comprises running a search query based on the portion of the visual content against a database and displaying search results on a separate window of the electronic user interface, wherein the method further comprises moving the enhanced cursor to the initial area of the electronic user interface after executing the first set of actions.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the enhanced cursor displays predefined information.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the predefined information indicates the first set of actions.
 8. An enhanced cursor system comprising: a non-transitory memory; and one or more hardware processors coupled to the non-transitory memory and configured to read instructions from the non-transitory memory to cause the system to perform operations comprising: parsing visual content being displayed on an electronic user interface to determine a subject matter of the visual content; selecting a first action, from a plurality of available actions, for a first cursor for use with the visual content based on the determined subject matter; assigning the first action to the first cursor; displaying the first cursor in a cursor palette comprising a plurality of cursors at an initial area on the electronic user interface without obscuring the visual content; receiving a selection of a portion of the content based on detecting a user selection of the first cursor from the cursor palette and movement of the first cursor from the initial area to the portion of the visual content displayed on the electronic user interface; and in response to receiving the selection of the portion of the visual content, executing the first action using the portion of the visual content.
 9. The enhanced cursor system of claim 8, wherein the cursor palette is displayed in an area where the visual content is not displayed.
 10. The enhanced cursor system of claim 8, wherein the user selection of the first cursor comprises at least one of a double-clicking or a double-tapping.
 11. The enhanced cursor system of claim 8, wherein the first cursor includes configurable elements.
 12. The enhanced cursor system of claim 8, wherein the first action is comprises purchasing a product based on the visual content.
 13. The enhanced cursor system of claim 8, wherein the first cursor displays predefined information.
 14. The enhanced cursor system of claim 13, wherein the predefined information indicates the first action.
 15. A non-transitory machine-readable medium having stored thereon machine-readable instructions executable to cause a machine to perform operations comprising: parsing visual content being displayed on an electronic user interface to determine a subject matter of the visual content; selecting a first action, from a plurality of available actions, for a cursor within a cursor palette based on the determined subject matter; assigning the first action to the cursor; displaying the cursor at an initial area on the electronic user interface without obscuring the visual content; receiving a selection of a portion of the visual content based on detecting a user selection of the cursor from the cursor palette and movement of the cursor from the initial area to the portion of the visual content displayed on the electronic user interface; and in response to receiving the selection of the portion of the visual content, executing the first action using the portion of the visual content.
 16. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the cursor palette is displayed in an area where the visual content is not displayed.
 17. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the cursor has a user defined appearance.
 18. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the cursor displays Really Simple Syndication (RSS) news.
 19. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the first action comprises initiating a payment authorization for a product based on selected portion of the visual content.
 20. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the cursor displays predefined information indicating the first action. 